Almost a quarter century since its first debut, Franck Muller’s Long Island returns in a trio of new iterations with each boasting a modern, evolved specification.
Almost a quarter century since its first debut, Franck Muller’s Long Island returns in a trio of new iterations with each boasting a modern, evolved specification.
While the silhouette of the original watch is retained, the design is updated to emphasise a refined proportion to spotlight the curves, angles and fine lines of the Long Island.
The new case design also has an additional inner case as a layer of security to protect the vital components from shock.
This multi-layered construction comes with an aesthetic benefit – the sapphire crystal can be attached to the flange without any visible screws.
Glénat: Green has become quite a modern classic.
Digging into the origins of Long Island, which was first presented in 2000 as a three-hand timepiece, Franck Muller head of design Jean-Loup Glénat says the brand’s co-founders named this watch as such because of its shape.
“It has nothing to do with the location,” he adds, referring to the island in southeastern New York state.
The original rounded rectangular case with a gentle curved form, short lugs, and arched numerals were inspired by the Art Deco era.
The three new watches – which are exclusive to the Asia-Pacific region – feature an aluminium inner case anodised in a pine green colour, a titanium outer case and alligator leather straps.
The stitching and edges are in the same pine green colour, creating a green line that encircles the entire watch.
“Green was chosen because it offered enough contrast against the blackened titanium and the movement, thus accentuating the details with the skeletonised dials without overpowering their aesthetic,” Glénat tells StarChrono.
The colour, he says, also adds mystery to the mechanism while maintaining its very graphic design concept.
Green has become quite a modern classic, he notes.
This collection -- Long Island Evolution Master Jumper, Long Island Evolution Giga Tourbillon and Long Island Evolution 7 Days Power Reserve -- is available at Franck Muller’s Malaysia flagship store in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and authorised retailers.
At a recent launch in Kuala Lumpur, Franck Muller Pte Ltd CEO Sharon Lim highlights the sporty aesthetics of the new watches, which come in a new case that is completely different from the classic version.
“The case is fitted with brand new movements, and importantly, a world premiere movement for Master Jumper.
“This collection once again reinforces our position as the master of complications,” she says.
MASTER JUMPER
The result of four years of development, this watch showcases a triple jumping complication with numerical displays for the hours, minutes and date.
While triple jumping is not new in watchmaking, this is the first watch to combine them for the time and date functions.
For the first time, Franck Muller adds an inner sapphire crystal at the level of the inner bezel of the watch.
This provides a three-dimensional depth while preserving the open-worked movement and highlighting the technical elements.
This timepiece comes with a price tag of RM438,400.
GIGA TOURBILLON
Franck Muller’s giga tourbillon movement, featuring a cage of 20mm, is now introduced in the Long Island range.
The large tourbillon cage, with a three-pointed supporting bridge, occupies over half of the entire movement.
With an all-black treatment that matches the titanium case, the oversized tourbillon also doubles as a running seconds counter.
This timepiece has four mainsprings, offering a generous four-day power reserve, and Super-LumiNova hands to indicate the hours and minutes.
Only eight pieces of Long Island Evolution Giga Tourbillon will be produced, and each is priced slightly above RM1.03mil.
The Long Island Evolution range is now available in Kuala Lumpur. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star
7 DAYS POWER RESERVE
The impressive seven-day power reserve is made possible by the hand-wound FM1745 calibre in a fully skeletonised design.
This time-only, three-hand model reminds one of the classic pocket watch movements, but with a novel and bold demeanour that fits the new Long Island case to a T.
The large Arabic hour numerals are painted with luminous material – read this watch in the dark and enjoy the glowing details.
This watch is priced at RM200,300.
Glénat: Green has become quite a modern classic.
A close-up look at the Master Jumper, which took four years to develop.
Almost a quarter century since its first debut, Franck Muller’s Long Island returns in a trio of new iterations with each boasting a modern, evolved specification.
Long Island Evolution Master Jumper showcases a triple jumping complication with numerical displays for the hours, minutes and date.
The Long Island Evolution range is now available in Kuala Lumpur. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star
